by Robert Klemko, USA TODAY Sports

by Robert Klemko, USA TODAY Sports

ASHBURN, Va. - Robert Griffin III says he has no doubt he will play Sunday. His coach isn't so sure, and the medical staff will have the final say.

The Washington Redskins rookie quarterback suffered a concussion in last week's loss to the Atlanta Falcons, though he's not fond of calling it that.

"I still refuse to say I had a concussion," he said. "I had temporary memory loss.

"They're taking the proper precautions that I'm ready to go, that I don't have any symptoms. The only symptom that I do have is irritability because they keep asking me the same questions. But they're doing their job, and I respect them for it."

Concussion or not, Griffin wasn't able to recall the score of the game or the quarter following the hit he took from Falcons linebacker Sean Witherspoon, which led to Kirk Cousins taking over the Washington offense and Griffin undertaking a series of cognitive tests this week to determine his playing Week 6 status vs. Minnesota the Minnesota Vikings.

He performed well enough to practice on a limited basis Wednesday. He also spoke with the media, sporting a new scar under his lip from the play that knocked him out of the game. He plans to take a different approach the next time he's sprinting upfield with a linebacker between him and the end zone.

"It doesn't make you less aggressive but it's a learning lesson," he said. "But the one thing I learned is that I can't do that to the team, the fans or my family. Life is more important than the game of football. I've got to make sure I keep myself healthy while still being the same player I am."

A decision on whether Griffin will play may not come until the weekend, as coach Mike Shanahan said, "Something could happen Saturday right before the game. You don't know. So each day we'll monitor him. And if he feels good, we're going to go with him."

Griffin has been an integral part of the offense. He's completed 69% of his passes for 1,161 yards and four touchdowns with one interception in five games. He's also rushed for 241 yards, much of it coming on designed run plays, though those have tapered off during the past two games. Still, those calls that maximize Griffin's mobility will remain in the playbook Shanahan said.

If the hit had any after-effects on Griffin, it didn't alter the rookie's sense of humor. He slid during Wednesday's practice at the end of a run, even though there's no hitting quarterbacks with or without concussions.

"I imitated a slide, and I got a huge cheer from the team," he said. "It's not about being soft. I don't have anything to prove. Everybody knows I'm a tough guy. The team has let me know that. You have to live to play another down."

Sunday's significant shot to the head wasn't the first for the No. 2 pick in April's draft. He suffered a concussion in November during Baylor's 66-42 win vs. Texas Tech. The scenario was nearly the same: Griffin was sliding at the end of a scramble when he took a forearm to the head.

Redskins teammate Santana Moss said Griffin doesn't need any more advice on how to avoid such danger.

"There's nothing for me to tell him," Moss said. "It's about experience. If I experience it and then I do it again, then I'm just dumb. And he's far from that."